OT: MSU's Dion Sims sentenced
So, I just read the paper that shall not be named that Michigan State's Dion Sims was sentenced to probation for his role in the DPS laptop theft rule. Who's taking the over or under on whether or not he is reinstated before the Capital One Bowl?
December 20th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
To reflect that it's actually Dion Sims.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
You could edit your post, or not, I guess.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
Oh, I see you did now. I'm not going to edit my post though, it's staying.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
goes to......Warden Dantonio. Congrats buddy!
December 20th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
Dion Sims. Courtney Sims never did anything wrong, besides choking on several dunks/layops/etc. I'm glad he has really stepped up his game since UM though.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
The judge even went as far as to say that he "will support Sims regaining an active status on the team if Sims completes his probation."
December 20th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
...running extra wind sprints after practice?
December 20th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
He just has to stretch a little longer beforehand.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
I'm so conflicted. I want to +1 for you quoting this nugget, but -1 for this nugget being such a bunch of BS.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
I am sure the article read that Sims actually mistakenly walked out the door with the laptops and they were reported stolen before he got a chance to take them back. Also the judge can save his breath, pretty sure Dantonio will let him back on the team. Just a guess.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Mark Dantonio already set him on the righteous path and has allowed him to continue practicing with the team this whole time. Alotting him a second opportunity with the prestiged, Michigan State University Spartan football prorgram.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^
I hope things work out for Sims. Sounds like he got tied up in something really really stupid, even if he wasn't the one walking into schools and thefting laptops. If he pays his pennance and completes his probation, he gets his record wiped clean and can start anew, in theory. I think he should get that fresh start outside the criminal justice system too.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
I know he wasn't convicted of a major crime, but he only got 15 hrs of community service.
He did it to DPS. That's like taking candy from a baby AND kicking it while it's crawling around looking for it's other stolen candy. Then there's the fact that his dad is charged with something similar:
Sims' father, Dion Lewis Sims Jr., a former business administrator at the University of Michigan's Center for Afro American and African Studies, is facing four felony embezzlement charges.
The elder Sims is accused of using university funds to purchase $74,000 worth of computers and computer-related equipment and for making $14,000 in other fraudulent purchases.
It would take a lot to convince me that he's a person that knows the difference between right and wrong. Some kids are victims of circumstance. Others have attend private schools and feel okay about ripping off poor public ones. Sort of like reverse Robin Hood.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
So stealing from DPS is stealing from a poor public school and comparable to taking candy from a baby and kicking the baby?! And then you claim that the misdeeds of his father should be held against him?!
I understand homerism and can see reason to make fun of MSU for their terrible disciplinary record, but this is ridiculous.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
I get it. You and That Guy want to be the good people here and show some compassion for a young adult that made a poor decision. I'm saying that I don't think it's justified in this case. I don't think he's a victim. He played a role (he certainly could've reported it!) in the current state of the public school system in Detroit (Graduation rate <25%, school closures, etc.). He went to a nice private school in the suburbs, his father had a nice job at UM, and he got a full scholarship to play football. He's not a Dorsey, BC, or Feagin.
He got 15 hours of community service. His record will be clean after that. He'll be let back on the football team. If I could sign up for that I would.
What does his father have to do with it? It seems like he's following in dad's footsteps rather than seeing that it's wrong and distancing himself from it.
It's just my opinion and I don't think it has anything to do with homerism. Well-off kids trying to scam a little bit extra is something I don't have tolerance for.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
I don't think Dion Sims is a victim. That said, he committed a minor crime that, in my opinion, shouldn't disqualify him from playing football for Michigan State. If Sims went to Michigan, I would probably be happy if he got a game suspension and that was the end of it.
I responded to your initial post because I took issue with what you wrote. And I still do. I can understand taking issue with someone having taken a role in stealing from DPS. This is obviously a bad thing, especially considering the state of DPS. However, you also take issue that Sims' father is accused of committing a felony and claim that this reflects poorly on Sims' character. Then, you went a step further and came out with this gem:
What does his father have to do with it? It seems like he's following in dad's footsteps rather than seeing that it's wrong and distancing himself from it.
Let me break down the problems with this statement:
- The laptops were stolen betwen December 2009 and January 2010. Sims' father was caught in June 2010. So unless Sims was aware of his fatther's activities (something rather unlikely), this statement is entirely illogical.
- The situations are not analogous. Sims played a peripheral role in the theft ring in that he introduced some of the individuals involved. He did not set out to steal or receive stolen property. In fact, the judge has even expressed support for Sims should he wish to rejoin the football team. When this is over, Sims' record will be clear. In contrast, Sims' father is accused of stealing tens of thousands of material from Michigan by himself. So yeah, the situations are very different.
- You say that part of the problem you have with Sims is that it appears that he's following in his father's footsteps. Yet if his father never committed a crime, then Sims wouldn't be following in his father's footsteps...which is somehow better?! This makes no sense to me whatsoever.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
Putting the father aside for a moment, how exactly is participating in $158,000 theft ring "a minor crime"?
Sure it isn't violent, and it isn't quite to Bernie Madoff levels, but I'd be righteously pissed off if someone stole that sort of money or product from my school system. As a matter of fact, there was a much smaller ( embezzlement, not property theft) scheme in my former system that yielded 6 months of jail time.
Not a minor crime, a joke of a sentence, and a joke of a judge.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
The extent of Sims' involvement has not been made clear to the media. It could be that the actual thiefs just asked him if he knew anyone who wanted to buy a laptop and he introduced them to someone who did. This would mean that Sims did not know the full extent of the thiefs activities at the time and could easily be considered a minor crime and the sentence would be appropriate.
It could also be that he knew exactly what was going on and he made a bunch of introductions and was much more active in the plot. However, I find this unlikely because the judge sentanced a codefendent who was also making introductions to a stiffer sentance (more community service and more restitution), suggesting that Sims played a minor role even compared to the other person the judge deemed to be a minor player.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
He's a great guy. And this might surprise some of you, actually went to Michigan. He's very thoughtful, has way more access to information than any of us, and knows what he's doing. While we might hear about this case and suddenly feel outrage, the judge sees these things every day, and knows exactly what this kid needs to succeed in the future. This isn't a lock him up and throw away the key crime. He's only like 19. He's gotta lot of life to live yet.
December 20th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
December 20th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
He introduced the people who actually stole the laptops to some of the people that they sold them to.
Here's a link if you want to read up.
Relevant Portion:
He is one of 10 people charged in a case that involved the stealing and reselling of $158,000 worth of school computers. Sims' role did not involve theft or selling, but he introduced some of the individuals involved, his attorney Steven Fishman of Detroit told the Detroit News.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
I'm no lawyer, but my understanding of conspiritorial goings on is that introducing or assisting actors is legally equivalent to commiting the "crime".
For instance, one can still be charged with drug crimes for introductions ( I believe Justin Feagin fell into this category)
December 21st, 2010 at 7:31 AM ^
...completely with what you said. There is no way that he attended the second best academic university in the state. Either Kalamazoo College or Michigan Tech should easily be considered superior academic institutions.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^
I've got a buddy at State with a few friends on the team, and he said the word around campus is that he'll be back on the team. Take it FWIW, I'm definitely not saying this is a fact, but I won't be surprised at all when he's reinstated.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
The fact is Rich couldn't bring this guy back if he wanted to. I'd like to think that it is because Michigan is held to a higher standard because it is Michigan. But that really isn't true either. The sad truth is the widely held perceptions are far out of whack from reality and Dantonio has wiggle room to do whatever he wants. Then when the media questions it in any way, he merely needs to cloak it in some high-minded drivel or bible verse.
Reality check: Dantonio is widely regarded as a disciplinarian and Rodriguez the lawless renegade rube. Even now. Think about the amazing power of media created themes.
Dantonio can do whatever he wants as long as he is winning. No one up there will say much against it. We already know the MSM won't.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
I don't have a problem with Sims getting probation and possibly being reinstated to the team for a property crime. What I have a problem with is football players assaulting fellow students and then being reinstated like it never happened...
December 20th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
Dantonio would never allow such an act to go unpunished. As it's been said already, he's a disciplinarian while Rich Rodriguez is the one that allows the inmates to run the asylum....right?
December 20th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
One property crime, while it is worse than a DUI, is probably worthy of a "second chance." I would like to see Saint Dantonio put Sims on zero tolerance and have it actually mean zero tolerance this time. The problem is that with a football player who performs, "zero tolerance" means "if you contribute, you can screw up as much as you want and we'll give you as many 'second chances' as you need." Also, I am, as another poster already commented, more concerned with the great frathouse beatdown participants being welcomed back to the team.
Worse yet, though, is the coverup of the "alleged rape" on orientation weekend by an unnamed MSU basketball player. One player backed up the victim's account of what the other player did, but the other player isn't being prosecuted, nor is there any apparent punishment coming from Tom Izzo, other than maybe a few extra laps that we don't know about.
Hopefully, the right thing eventually happens in EL. The frathouse beatdown was bad enough, but I especially believe that a young woman has been severely wronged and deserves justice and closure.
What I don't understand is why a parent would send their child to MSU when the coaches of the two major athletic programs there are basically enablers of criminal behavior that puts students at risk. I especially don't understand why a parent of an elite prospect would sign the paperwork for his or her child to go to a school where he has approximately a fifteen percent chance of committing a misdemeanor or worse during his four years at MSU.
If other schools ever decide to reciprocate the negative recruiting that is MSU's style in both sports, their glass house could be in a lot of trouble.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:47 AM ^
Worse yet, though, is the coverup of the "alleged rape" on orientation weekend by an unnamed MSU basketball player. One player backed up the victim's account of what the other player did, but the other player isn't being prosecuted, nor is there any apparent punishment coming from Tom Izzo, other than maybe a few extra laps that we don't know about.
The alleged victim declined to press charges. The reasons she didn't press charges were, according to the Michigan Messenger, that she didn't stand up well to a hypothetical defense approach when discussing the case with prosecutors and she was worried about the negative publicity that would be focused on her during the case, particularly if the case failed in court. This is obviously a terrible thing, but it is not incumbant on Izzo to publicly discipline players over an incident in which no charges were filed. The issue that I find most troubling about the case is not MSU's failure to discipline, but the fact that members of our society will drag actual rape victims go through hell to bring athletes, celebrities, and the like to justice.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^
(which it may be) Victims don't decide whether charges get "pressed". Victims can decide whether or not to testify (to some degree) but have no say in whether charges get pressed. Prosecutors in collaboration with police decide whether or not to press charges depending on the evidence they have.
If a victim says they don't want to testify and the prosecutor doesn't want to force them to, they may decide not to follow through with charges because without the victims testimony they don't have a case.
This is a big misconception in Canadian Law, that victims decide whether to press charges or not. At the end of the day, charges can be laid whether the victim likes it or not.
Is it different in the USA? I don't think it is, but I could be wrong.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
But in this case, the question is whether or not the act was consensual and the prosecution seemed to feel that the defense had a decently strong case to claim it was. Without the willing participation of the alleged victim, they decided not to go forward.
Now, this could be a cover up, as has been alleged by a number of people here, but I find it far more likely that the prosecutor has some degree of integrity and isn't willing to cover up a rape for the sake of the MSU basketball team.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
The issue that I find most troubling about the case is not MSU's failure to discipline, but the fact that members of our society will drag actual rape victims go through hell to bring athletes, celebrities, and the like to justice.
Am I missing something here? It seems to me that when rape victims get dragged through hell, it's nearly always a consequence of the defense trying to make them look either A) like a whore B) a willing participant, or C) a liar. Why you think this is different for athletes, celebrities, and the like I don't know except to note that rape victims of the above category of people have it far worse in court and public opinion due to the very high publicity of the cases.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
I did not mean to imply that some rape victims do not go through hell. However, in the cases of athletes and celebrities, the cases are much more high profile and people who like the athlete or celebrity will maliciously target the victim for incredibly petty things, like their team doing worse as a result of the accused athlete not playing games. I referenced this because that is one of the reasons the alleged victim cited for not wanting to go through with the prosecution.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
Sparty is losing to Bama 42-13 regardless of him playing
December 20th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
I hope Bama cares enough to try...I remember the Sugar bowl game against UTAH where the Tide mailed it in and got beat 31-17.
Let's hope Saban gets 'em fired up for a serious beat down...
42-13 sounds awesome!
December 20th, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
Questions about MSU hoops-
1. What happened to the MSU hoops Rape case?
http://michiganmessenger.com/42253/msu-sexual-assault
2. What is the status of Derrick Nix?
http://detnews.com/article/20101127/SPORTS0202/11270380/MSU%E2%80%99s-D…
3. Has Korie Lucious seen a lot of time on the court (not in the court) this season?
http://www.theonlycolors.com/2010/8/31/1660757/korie-lucious-arrested-f…
4. What must Chris Allen done to get kicked off of this team?
http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/08/03/chris-allen-dismissed-fro…
5. How could Izzo get suspened for such a minor infraction?
http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2010/12/michigan_states_tom_izz…
6. Is the MSU program cleaner or dirtier than the MSU football program?...The UM football program?
December 20th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
The alleged victim alongside the Ingham County Prosecuter's office decided not to press charges. The alleged victim expressed concerns about being exposed to negative publicity that would result should the players not be convicted. It's a terrible situation all around, but the basketball players were never charged and thus they faced no public consequences.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
see the problem. He can still play.
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December 21st, 2010 at 12:14 AM ^
I can't wait for the Dantonio press conference.
Reporter: So Coach when will Dion be eligible to rejoin the team?
Dantonio: well I have talked to Dion and told him that he has to really think about what he has done and when he feels he has been punished enough he can decide to when it is ok for him to return.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:53 AM ^
I used to have a laptop but Cam Newton stole it.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
Only problem with that is if you try to turn him in, Cecil will say Cam knows nothing about a laptop.